The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-26
and the court proceeded to

There was no discussion, each member
of the court being simply asked: "What
say you, is the prisoner guilty or not
guilty2"
1t is the rule, in all military courts, for
the junior officer in rank to vote first, and
then the next, and the next, in an ascend
ing scale This is done that the opln-
ions of the seniors may not affect the
Judgment of the juniors. The vote IS
viva voce, and as one by one was asked,
the answers came: "Guilty."
THE verdict is unanimous as to the
guilt of the prisoner. Now gentlemen,
we will pass upon the sentence"
This matter involved a long discussion,
majority contcnding for whipping on
the bare back, in the presence of his COM
mand, and branding in palm of his right
hand the letter D.
TO this the President dissented.
"No, gentlemen" he said, there is
but one adequate punishment for the Of
fence of desertion in the face of the
enemy, and that is death. If this boy IS
guilty, as you say he is, let him be shot.
If he is innocent, as feel in my soul ne
is, he should 60 free. Having found him
gully, our duty is to sentence according
to the findings, and the penalty for this
offence is death. The rest we can leave
to the commanding General"
So poor Robbie Nix was condemned to
be "shot to death, at such time and
place as the commanding General may
designate"
The President, bluff old Colonel
Zachery, added to the official report: In
consideration of the extreme youth of
the prisoner, the manifest illegality of his
enlistment and his uniform good conduct
as soldier, previous to this offence, l
respectfully commend him to the mercy
of the commanding General, and would
ask that he be discharged from custody
and remanded to the regiment for duty"
The finding of the court was not to be
made known until the action OF the
General was returned, but in some way 1t
leaked out and flew, with the instinct OF
bad news, to the ears of the mother at
home.
For few moments, after hearing it,
she stood dazed, then, creeping in to her
room, she knelt by her bed, and poured
our her sorrow in tears and sobs and
prayers. At last, gathering her womanly
courage with her womanly wits, she
arose and commenced hurried prepara-
tion for journey.
'But where'll you get the money,
Mary?" asked her husband, as she told
him of her purpose.
81 will sell the cow. That will be
enough to carry me there. "
But how'll you git back2"
''If can save my child, I can walk
back; but if they murder my darling, !
shall not care ever to come back; shall
pray to die too"
The cow was driven to the village and
readily sold. and on the next train the
heart-brokcn mother was on her way to
offer her own life for the life of her son.
She was timid woman, modest and
reserved, but her great anxiety made her
courageous. Arrived at Dalton, around
which place the army was encamped, she
made her way to the regimental head
quarters, and received from the colonel a
confirmation of the story. He told her
that the matter was in the hands OF
General Johnston, first, and as last re-
sort in the hands of President Davis, and
offered to 90 with her to the General.
1t was late in the day, but there were
no "office hours" in the army. If they
could reach headquarters before Cen
eral Johnston retired to bed, they would
be in time.
They found him at supper.
"Will the lady eat something's" was
the hospitable invitation.
"No, thanks. I came to tell you OF
nv son. There is some mistake, cruel
mistake, I know. My boy is not
coward. els not descrter. don't
know what they proved against him, but
it is false that he ran away from the field
of battle and came home without leave.
He was wounded, sir, badly shot, in the
leg, know, for T nursed him myself. II
YOU will see him, sir, and let him tell
YOU, YOU will know the truth, for | have
taught him not to tell lie, even to save
| his own life"
"Ah. but who is it7 I do not know
to whom you REFER" said the General,
puzzled at the lady's earnestncss.
sMy son. Robert Nix, whom they
have falsely accused of desertion, and
condemned to be shot"
"General Brent do you know anything
of the case2' turning to his AdJutant-
General and Chief-of- Staff.
"I have had it under review to-day. 1t
is peculiar case, and intended calling
your attention to it in the morning." an
swered General Brent.
awe will 90 through it now. My
good lady, you must wait here until l
examine the matter"
ooh, sir, I beg that you will let me
explain" she interrupted.
''No, be seated here. If need you I
will call YOU"
The poor lady sank down on a camp
stool, and as the General went into his
Office with his Adjutant, she slipped to
her knees and in silent prayer awaited
the issue.
She had not long to wait, although it
seemed an age to her. The General him
self came back, holding in his hand an
order.
"You tell me that your son was
wounded2" .
Gas God will judge me in the day |
stand before Him, tell you the truth.
He came home to me wounded IN the
leg"
true"
81 know not what he told the court,
only this, if he told anything at all, he
told the truth"
| tt,1l bol;oyo MOI, ond believe